ADVOCACY
STATE OF THE COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS STRENGTHS WITH PEOPLE AND PROGRAMS
BY DAVID GONZALEZ JR. ADVOCACY COORDINATOR YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY SLAGLE DIGITAL AND DESIGN SPECIALIST YORK COUNTY ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
State of the County aims to highlight York County and its departments and employees. It’s an opportunity to gauge where the County stands in its efforts on the governmental level and economy. The County Commissioners and the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA)’s mission was to give County residents an understanding of how their government operates. After a 10-year hiatus, State of the County returned this year to Spring Grove Area High School. Spring Grove was chosen to expand the County government’s presence outside of York, an initiative that will be continued for future events.
STATE OF THE COUNTY TAKEAWAYS › York County Commissioners showcased three County departments: Veterans Affairs, Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and Parks & Recreation. › Pleasant Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation Center operates on an annual $46 million budget, employs 550 people, and serves 365 residents. › The Department of Veterans Affairs has partnered with rabbittransit, which serves the area’s mass transit needs. Currently, rabbittransit offers a free shuttle service for veterans from York to the Lebanon VA Medical Center. The Department of Veterans Affairs is seen as leading the effort toward increasing awareness of needs, maximizing benefit, and providing the greatest possible service to veterans. › County Commissioners awarded Chief Deputy Coroner Claude Stabley with a team player of the year award and Scott Lavis of the Clerk of Courts office with young professional of the year. This occasion marked the first time these awards were given to recognize department staff.
› The Department of Parks & Recreation maintains 11 York County parks, which cover more than 4,600 acres, with 29 full-time employees. In the last year, 4,000 tree seedlings were planted across all County parks. About 1.4 million people visited the County parks, and the department completed the creation of wetlands and stream restoration at William Kain Park. › YCEA President & CEO Kevin Schreiber shared that the state of York County’s economy is strong. He reported a 4.5 percent level of unemployment, lower than the state average. York County residents earn a median household income of approximately $58,000, higher than the state average, and 18 percent of residents are employed in the manufacturing sector, higher than the state and national average.
18 CHAMBER CONNECT | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 | YCEA-PA.ORG